Car Hire Tips

Thanks Clair for today's an article on how to do a better car hire deal. A set of tips very helpful specially for those who are already planing the next vacations ;)

Car hire is often the most suitable way of getting around when on holiday abroad. It's also convenient for a range of other activities such as moving house or visiting relatives in the UK. Car hire options can be confusing, with a wealth of companies and services available. It can also be costly if you haven't approached it the best way.

Here are a few tips to get the most from your car hire. By choosing the right vehicle, hiring at the right time and ensuring you get the best deal then car hire needn't to be a minefield.


Knowing exactly what you need before you book is important. Will you need a large boot? If not a small get around may work out much cheaper. If you are going to be driving around a hot country with kids then air conditioning may be an absolute necessity.

The best tips of course, are those that save you money. There are plenty of ways to keep the costs down when hiring a car. These include flexibility on the day you hire a car. Car hire is often much cheaper during the week than at weekends. If you arrive on holiday on a Saturday and intend on spending the first couple of days lying by the pool, it might be worth waiting till Monday to hire the car and start going on day trips from there. Keeping your fuel usage low will of course make car hire much cheaper. Try not to drive around with too much luggage if possible as a heavier load will of course use up more petrol. Taking your GPS with you or a local road map to prevent unwanted detours is another way to use less petrol. Many car hire providers rent GPS' also and if you are not familiar with the area, this can be a very necessary add on.


If you are leaving from near you own home then it's worth bringing your own baby seats or booster seats as companies will charge to rent them. If you are flying then you will need to look into which firms can provide the correct child or baby seats for you.

Make sure you are aware of local driving laws. It sounds obvious, but many people get caught out abroad because they don't know the basic speed limits or other rules of the road. If you are not sure, check online and make a list of the most important differences between driving at home and driving around your holiday destination.

Whether you're holidaying in Penzance or in Portugal car rental can be an easy, cheap and convenient way to get around. Following these simple tips should make the process smoother and more affordable.

Thanks again Clair, I'll for sure be remembering this article of yours before booking my next car hire! Also thanks to Open Galleries for the Rome and Lisbon photos.